It seems to me that they all whether paid of free, will all have the same exact amount of houses because all the transactions are all public and so they seem to compete with each other based on the quality of the data of the houses, how up to date it is, and the user experience in configuring the how the layout is.

Do everything right: To include but not limited to pro photos, professional quality design, durable furnishings.  

@Amir PortalRecommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Colors, quality of paint, how much prep needed, holes patches etc. 

Thoughtful upgrades and efficient project management made this a successful venture, highlighting the strength of our partnership and commitment to delivering high-quality results.

The structure will depend on the down payment, quality of borrower, terms of note, your cash out of the note sale needs, and other factors. 

Property ClassProperties are categorized by class, impacting their quality, condition, and investment profile:Class A: High-end, newly built, prime locations, attractive to institutional investors.Class B: Good quality, older than Class A, with minor deferred maintenance.Class C: Older properties with dated amenities, but value-add opportunities exist.Class D: Distressed properties in less desirable locations with high risks but potential for significant improvement.4.

So quality of tenant is irrelevant as accidents can happen.So most of your post demonstrates that you did not really think about it.  

Contractors, unless you have a working relationship with them, normally do not want you bouncing ideas off them.Understand what their hourly rate is, have a discussion with them that you are okay with paying them an hourly rate if they walk the property with you and provide you a scope of work along with an explanation of what you can/can't get away with in regards to improvements.ask them if you go with them, if they can credit you the amount that you paid.Once you develop a working relationship with a few contractors, you can bounce ideas off them and expect quality responses.I do not invest in New York.Best of luck. 

Those qualities can be the difference between closing a deal and walking away empty-handed.What about you?